The great Australia Day tradition of cockroach racing is…..wait. What?! Yes, it’s true!

Cockroach racing had a distinguished beginning in the bar of the Story Bridge Hotel, Kangaroo Point in QLD, 1981. Two punters apparently sat arguing over which suburb had the biggest and we can only assume fastest, cockroaches.

To settle the argument, both men went home, caught a cockroach then headed back to the pub. They then decided to race them, as you do, and history was made! The races have now been held at the Story Bridge Hotel for 30 years.

The races at some point moved from the pub car park to an area of land adjacent to the hotel, where there is now a small stadium, with corporate boxes and all. The “track” is a four metre wide square with a circle inside it. It doesn’t matter which direction the cockroaches run, it’s just the first over the line that wins!

Image from cockroachraces.com.au

Entrants pay $5 to buy a roach and $5 to enter it or their own in a race. All roaches are numbered, yes this is done by hand and they are bought and flown up from Melbourne, (not Sydney?!) but sometimes there’s still not enough to go around, so people are encouraged to bring their own roach.

Funnily enough, the event seems to be more about dressing up and getting into the spirit of it all than the actual race and all proceeds from the entry, racing and dunking machine go to the children’s charity, Variety. There are also, DJs, live bands and food marquees and a Best ‘Stable’ Costume Competition and a Miss Cocky Competition, which is all about poise and sophistication.

Image from cockroachraces.com.au

Image from cockroachraces.com.au

Image from cockroachraces.com.au

THE OFFICIAL RULES OF COCKROACH RACING AS APPROVED BY SOCOG
(Society of Cockroach Only Gaming)

1. Races are only open to entrants registered and weighed in by the stewards prior to event.
2. It is the job of the stewards to catch the first 3 cockies across the line. Their decision is final.
3. After each event, entrants may be re-entered in further events (if you can catch them). Best wishes and good luck  to any of the entrants which evade capture…..we hope to see you next year.
4. Flying will not be tolerated, entrants thought to have gained an unfair air-born advantage will be disqualified. If disqualified entrants may be banned from competing in future events.
5. Ownership of entrants ceases after each race.
6. Only stewards are permitted on ‘The Olde Canvasse’. Pitch invaders are liable to a $100,000,000.00 fine.
7. The cost of entering a ‘Roach is $5.00. Prizes are as follows; 1st place – Sponsors Prize & Trophy.  2nd place –  $25 Cash!!. 3rd place $15.00. Scientifically bred Cockroaches (of the highest calibre) can be purchased from the  Stewards.
8. As outlined by the governing bodies, entrants may be tested for performance enhancing substances at any time.  Penalties are severe! Owners are  advised that stewards will also be scanning for so called “natural” enhancers  e.g. coffee, white sugar, and red cordial to name a few.
9. The Cockroach Races are first and foremost a fun event. All funds raised in this event from the buying or entering of ‘Roaches go to Variety. Therefore anyone who disagrees with the official  rules,  the running of the event or decisions made by the Stewards, will be considered to be  ”Wowsers of the highest  order” and not very Australian at all.

Thanks to cockroachraces.com.au

Sportsnet’s Sarah Fotia takes us with her to Mexico…

One of my favourite places in the world is Playa Del Carmen in Mexico, which I only recently travelled to. It is such a gorgeous coastal town.

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico - Image from mexicotravelguideblog.com

Playa del Carmen, or just “Playa”, has one of the most laid-back main streets I have ever visited. Avenida Quinta or “Fifth Avenue” is a pedestrians only strip that goes for 2 miles with a line of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops that you can walk along without fear of cars. Our Hotel “El Taj” came highly recommended, was right on the beach and the service was phenomenal and all within arms reach of the famous “Fifth Avenue”.

Fifth Avenue, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico - Image from deatoncrew.com

An experience that I will never forget was when we went off the main strip one night for something different and we encountered a carnival that the locals attend. We were the only tourists at the carnival which had local food stalls, rides for the kids and lots of dancing. I had the most amazing local dessert which was a nutella style crêpe. We asked one of the locals how many times a year the carnival is put on for the town and he said only one night a year! All of the local families look forward to it each year. It was a pretty special experience.

A must when travelling to this town is to ensure that you eat as much Mexican food as possible, as it is amazing. I highly recommend that you visit Chichen Itza which was one of the largest Mayan cities and is likely to have been one of the great mythical cities. Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico, an estimated 1.2 million tourists visit the ruins every year.

I highly recommend all to visit this amazing place. If you love sun, beach, culture and dancing, this is the place for you.

Dancers, Fifth Avenue, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico - Image from nytimes.com

Mexican food by the beach - Image from mayanreservations.com

5th Ave, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico - Image from cityimage.net

Chichen Itza, Mexico - Imge from citypictures.org

The Cenote Azul, Chichen Itza, Mexico - Image from traveljournals.net